Laws

Lucy Barbour speaks with competition policy review panel member, Su McCluskey about why the panel has rejected calls to make it easier for national firms to compete globally. The panel has also recommended changes to section 46 of the competition law, misuse of power. Read more.

Security at Parliament House has been ramped up after "chatter" among terrorist support networks about a possible attack on government, Prime Minister Tony Abbott says.

Four people have now been charged in the wake of the raids in Sydney and Brisbane, with one man accused of plotting to grab innocent members of the public and execute them.

"There certainly has been chatter amongst the terrorist support networks of an attack on government and government people and Parliament House has been specifically mentioned," he told ABC's AM program.

An eleventh hour amendment to already controversial mining laws in Queensland has triggered anger from landholders and green groups, with a lawyer saying the new legislation restricts the rights of landholders to object to a mining lease application.

A woman accused of abducting her infant daughter from her father 20 years ago will be extradited to the United States.

Dorothy Lee Barnett's lawyers asked the Federal Government to prevent the extradition, but the ABC has confirmed Federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan has determined that Ms Barnett will be surrendered.

"The Minister arrived at his determination following careful consideration of the provisions of Australia’s extradition law and taking into account representations made by, and on behalf of, Ms Barnett," a government spokesperson said in a statement.

"In August 2014, the Minister for Justice determined that Ms Barnett is to be surrendered to the United States."

Queensland's Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie was warned earlier this year about a multi-million dollar race betting scam exposed by the ABC'S 7.30 program this week, but said he was powerless to do anything.